State of emergency in Basra, no word from Tuscany

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared Wednesday a month-long state of emergency in the southern city of Basra, vowing to confront troublemakers in the oil-rich city with "an iron fist."

Al-Maliki is visiting the southern Iraqi city, which had been relatively calm since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

However, violence blamed on sectarian tensions and fighting over control of the city's oil resources has erupted in recent weeks.

"We are hearing of security breaches which we fear may escalate and worsen," the prime minister said, according to a translation from the Associated Press.

"We shall hit with an iron fist the heads of the gangs or those who threaten security. And we shall request all security departments to draw an effective and quick plan to achieve security to a standard which would give citizens the feel of security." Link

db: Curfew in Kabul, State of Emergency in Basra, no comment from Blair who is currently on a 'working' [so he can get expenses] holiday. Weather in Tuscany is currently sunny, with a fifty per cent chance of rain.